Legendary basketball coach Al McGuire once famously said: "The best thing about freshmen is that they become sophomores."

Navy men's basketball boasts a sophomore class that has grown up in a hurry and played an instrumental role in the program's surprising success this season. The Midshipmen (15-5) are off to their best 20-game start since 2000 and the development of Shawn Anderson, Jace Hogan, Tom Lacey, Nourse Fox and Bryce Dulin is a major reason why.

"I think that sophomore class has great fiber. It's a tight-knit group that has developed a great bond," Navy coach Ed DeChellis said. "I think they're very competitive guys that desperately want to win. Collectively, they are playing with a lot of confidence and a lot of moxie."

Anderson has started all 20 games at small forward and leads Navy in scoring at 12.7 points per game. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound Pennsylvania product is second on the squad with 58 assists and tied for third with 80 rebounds.

While Anderson saw the most playing time among the Class of 2018 last season, he put up modest numbers – averaging just 4.3 points and 3.1 rebounds.

"Shawn is shooting the ball much better from the perimeter and has also become more dangerous driving to the basket," DeChellis said. "I also think he's gained a better understanding of how to play defense at this level."

It appeared early that Hogan would be a big contributor as a plebe, but he wound up playing in only eight games. The 6-foot-6, 217-pounder out of Florida contributed six points, three rebounds and two assists in the season opener against Michigan State, but was never able to replicate that performance.

By Paul W. Gillespie / Capital Gazette

Navy's Jace Hogan hits a three point shot in the first half. The Navy Midshipmen played the visiting Furman Paladins in men's NCAA basketball Tuesday evening at Alumni Hall in Annapolis.

Navy's Jace Hogan hits a three point shot in the first half. The Navy Midshipmen played the visiting Furman Paladins in men's NCAA basketball Tuesday evening at Alumni Hall in Annapolis. (By Paul W. Gillespie / Capital Gazette)

"I think Jace kind of got overwhelmed by everything at the academy," DeChellis said. "I was hoping after Christmas he would settle in and catch a second wind, but it didn't happen."

Hogan has blossomed as a sophomore and is Navy's second-leading scorer with an average of 10.2 points. The rugged and athletic product of Holy Trinity High in Melbourne is grabbing 5.8 rebounds per game, tops on the team.

"Jace has really taken a big step forward on the offensive end. He can knock down open shots from mid-range and is rebounding really well," DeChellis said. "Jace needs to continue to make progress on the defensive end, but he is very athletic and has a nice skill set."

Hogan started three games to begin the season, but the coaching staff felt he would be more comfortable coming off the bench. That opened the door for Lacey, who has made a huge leap forward since being inserted into the starting lineup.

Lacey exploded for a career-high 18 points in last week's road win over Lehigh, flashing his ability to finish around the basket with dunks, layups and power moves. The strong and powerful 6-foot-7, 225-pound product of Seton Hall Prep in New Jersey saw spot duty in 15 games as a freshman, averaging 1.3 points and 1.6 rebounds.

By Paul W. Gillespie / Capital Gazette

Navy's Tom Lacey attempts a shot in the first half. The Navy Midshipmen played the visiting Furman Paladins in men's NCAA basketball Tuesday evening at Alumni Hall in Annapolis.

"Tom Lacey brings great energy and a certain level of toughness. He's not afraid to mix it up with people," DeChellis said. "Tom talks a lot out on the floor, which is a sign of leadership. He's a very selfless player."

Anderson has been Navy's leading scorer in seven games while Hogan's had the honor in six contests. Last week marked the second time Hogan has topped the team in points.

Fox also has found a role in the regular rotation, stepping up and seizing the backup point guard job after promising freshman Hasan Abdullah faltered early then suffered an injury. Fox, who did not play in the opener versus Florida, has appeared in every game since and has done a solid job of directing the offense off the bench.

By Paul W. Gillespie / Capital Gazette

Navy's Nourse Fox puts up a layup, that teammate Will Kelly finishes off, in the second half. The Navy Midshipmen defeated the visiting Lafayette Leopards, 87-61, in mens NCAA basketball Saturday evening at Alumni Hall in Annapolis.

The 6-foot, 195-pound product of the Memphis University School in Tennessee played in just 11 games as a plebe. He is third on the team with 24 assists despite playing less than 10 minutes per game.

"I think Nourse has become more comfortable and the game is slowing down for him," DeChellis said. "Last year, Nourse tried to play too fast and made mistakes. This year, he's been more patient and is making better decisions with the ball."

Dulin is a bit behind his classmates in terms of development, but is playing and contributing. The Missouri native has appeared in 13 games and is averaging almost 13 minutes – scoring 50 pounds, grabbing 31 rebounds and dishing off 17 assists.

By Paul W. Gillespie / Capital Gazette

Navy's Bryce Dulin drives towards the basket past Furman's John Davis III in the first half. The Navy Midshipmen played the visiting Furman Paladins in men's NCAA basketball Tuesday evening at Alumni Hall in Annapolis.

"Bryce still hasn't gotten where I want him to be. He's an extremely talented kid with a lot of potential so we're pushing him hard every day in practice," DeChellis said. "Bryce is long and athletic and can do a lot of things."

Navy, which was picked ninth out of 10 teams in the Patriot League preseason poll, holds sole possession of second place behind Bucknell (8-1). At 6-1 going into Wednesday night's home game against American, Navy is off to its best start in conference play since 2001.

"Most players tend to make a big jump between their freshmen and sophomore years and I certainly think that's the case with this group," DeChellis said. "They all worked very hard in the spring and summer to get stronger and improve as players. I think that effort and commitment during the offseason has paid off for these young guys and our program is reaping the dividends."